Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 28
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
गवामङ्गेषु तिष्ठन्ति भुवनानि चतुर्दश यस्मात्तस्माच्छिवं मे स्यादिह लोके परत्र च
gavāmaṅgeṣu tiṣṭhanti bhuvanāni caturdaśa yasmāttasmācchivaṃ me syādiha loke paratra ca
Puisque les quatorze mondes demeurent dans les membres des vaches, que l’auspice soit mien—ici en ce monde et aussi dans l’au-delà.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Recited as an auspicious merit-formula (maṅgala/śiva-vākya) connected with go-sevā/go-dāna ideology to secure welfare here and hereafter.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Go-mahātmyam: fourteen worlds abiding in the cow’s limbs","lookup_keywords":["go-mahātmyam","caturdaśa-bhuvana","aṅga","śiva (auspiciousness)","paratra-phala"],"quick_summary":"Affirms the cow as a cosmic support-symbol; by honoring the cow, one seeks auspiciousness in this life and the next."}
Alamkara Type: Atishayokti
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: the cow as a dharmic vessel of cosmic order; śiva/maṅgala as the fruit of reverence.
Application: Practice go-rakṣā, go-dāna, and respectful conduct toward cows as a dharmic observance linked to welfare and merit.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Stuti-prayoga (Auspicious hymns and merit-formulas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred cow depicted as a cosmic body-map containing the fourteen worlds; a devotee prays for auspiciousness in this world and beyond.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large serene cow with stylized cosmic orbs and lokas indicated within its limbs, devotee with folded hands, temple-grove background, earthy reds/ochres, calm śānta tone","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, sacred cow adorned with ornaments and gold foil, small medallions representing fourteen worlds on its body, devotee offering garland, rich jewel colors, auspicious halo motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: cow in profile with labeled lokas as small circles, gentle shading, clean outlines, devotee in namaskāra, emphasis on symbolic mapping","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, finely detailed cow with delicate decorative cartouches indicating worlds, pastoral setting with attendants, subtle palette, manuscript marginalia feel"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"benedictory","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गवाम्+अङ्गेषु→गवामङ्गेषु; यस्मात्+तस्मात्→यस्मात्तस्मात्; तस्मात्+शिवम्→तस्माच्छिवम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: dāna-dharma and go-dāna praise passages (related khanda themes)
FAQs
It provides a stuti-prayoga (praise-formula) linking gau-mahima with caturdaśa-bhuvana cosmology, used to invoke śivam (auspicious welfare) for both present life and afterlife.
It compresses cosmology (the fourteen worlds) into a devotional-ritual framework (cow sanctity and auspiciousness), illustrating how the Agni Purana integrates metaphysics, worship practice, and merit theology in a single instruction.
By venerating the cow as a locus of the cosmos, the verse frames reverence and protection of cows as a meritorious act that yields śivam—well-being, purification, and favorable destiny—both here and beyond.